Connector



- June 30, 1942- J. D. BENFIELD CONNECTOR Filed Feb. 25, 1941 MMM,

Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTOR John D. Benfield, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.

Application February 25, 1941, Serial No. 380,503

2 Claims.

rlhis invention relates to connectors and more particularly to connectors formed from plastic, wood or any other suitable non-metallic material, and is adapted particularly for securing together the ends of a plurality of wires, metal tubing, metallic ribbons, or the like, and especially electric conductors of various sorts which are adapted to be grouped or bound together to provide joints, splices, taps or terminals. While the present invention is intended to be used in connection with the securing together of a plurality of electric conductors, it will be understood that it may be used for various other purposes. If desired, therefore, and in accordance with the present invention, the connector proper may be formed of metal by casting, forging or in any other suitable manner for binding together members other than electric conductors.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing character which is capable of making a positive joint or connection between two or more electric conductors without any danger of the accidental loosening or separation of said conductors, and one in which there is little chance of the electrician or other workman on the job to make any mistake in the completion of the joint or connection between the conductors so as to permit the joint or connection to come loose and ineifective during use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing character which is fool-proof in use since it is impossible to tighten the parts of the present improved connector until and unless the conductors, which are to be spliced or secured together by means thereof, are in their proper positions with relation to the parts of the connector.

A 'further object of the present invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing character which has a universal range, that is to say one which is capable of receiving and connecting together a plurality of conductors, such as wires, wherein the conductors or wires themselves vary over a very wide range of sizes and combinations of Wire groupings. In other words the improved connector is not limited to the binding together of any given size or grouping of conductors but will operate successfully on any size grouping from a size approximating the maximum of the loop opening down to zero.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved connector of the foregoing character in which, by virtue of its novel construction, can be used to bind or secure together a plurality of conductors or Wires without any danger of damaging said wires, regardless of carelessness or abuse on the part of the workman, while at the same time maintaining them bound together in a group under pressure to prevent loosening of the Wires and because of the pressure contact, the possibility of the corrosion of the wires or other conductors is greatly reduced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector having means which, when applied to the ends of the conductors to be secured together, serves to force the several conductors or wires into one compact group, thus making the joint or connection electrically eiiicient and because of the pressure set up by the binding together of these wires, the possibility of corrosion which would destroy the contact through disintegration and loosening is substantially overcome.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector of the foregoing character having adjustable means for securing or binding the conductors or other members together in a compact mass and one in which, by virtue of its particular construction and arrangement of parts, the conductors are bound together more firmly due to the angularity of the gripping means of the connector or joint, in direct proportion to the amount of pulling force exerted directly upon the conductors themselves in a direction which would tend to separate or disassemble the conductors from the connector itself.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector of the foregoing character in which a wall of the connector is provided with knockout means which may be removed if desired, thus permitting the insertion of additional conductors or wires to be coupled together, spliced or connected with the previously inserted Wires, or used as a two way connector for only two wires.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector of the foregoing character in which the tightening together of the parts of the connector causes a binding action on the conductors or wires passing thereinto and in which accidental loosening of the conductor parts is prevented, thus eliminating any possibility oi loosening and slippage of the conductors or wires.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector having positive locking means in which the several parts of the connector are automatically bound and locked together as the connector is installed upon the conductors by the workman.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector which may be easily applied to a plurality of wires or other conductors to connect them together without requiring the use of any special tools.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved connector of the foregoing character which is of relatively simple construction, having a minimum of parts, and one which can be produced at low cost and at high production rates.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when considered in connection with the a-ccompanying drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a connector embodying the present invention showing one of its applications of use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of an improved connector embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 ofFig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1 -I of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the connector of Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of one end or wall of the body portion of the connector of the preceding views; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a somewhat modied form of connector embodying the present invention.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of partsillustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to .be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring new particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawing, A represents as a whole an improved connector embodying the present invention. As shown, this connector comprises a body portion B, a removable or detachable cap member C, and an adjustable gripping or clamping member D.

The body portion, as shown, is preferably formed from some non-metallic material such as plastic, wood, hard rubber, or the like, and is provided at its upper or top end with a preferably cylindrical pocket or cup I0. The body portion B is provided with a bore or socket portion II which extends from the bottom of the cup portion I0 to the lower or bottom wall I2 of the body portion. The bottom wall or portion I2, is, as shown, provided with a recessed cap or disklike .portion I3 which is formed integrally with the remainder of the body portion and which serves as a bottom `or end wall for the socket II. The disk-like portion I3.is, as shown, set

in, or countersunk for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The diameter of the cup portion IIB is considerably larger than that of the bore or socket II, this for the purpose of permitting the reception of the insulated ends of a number of electric conductors such as the Wires W shown in Figs. l and 2. It will be understood that before the ends of the wires W are inserted in the socket or bore II, the insulation adjacent the ends thereof is cut and skinned so that the bare ends of the wires are exposed. These exposed bare ends of the wires II are either twisted together or grouped together straight before they are inserted as a group into the socket or bore II.

The body member B is preferably provided with an offset portion of generally round or cylindrical form which extends beyond the main body portion at an acute angle thereto. This offset portion of the body is indicated generally at I4 and, as shown, is provided with a cylindrical bore or recess I5 which extends from the outer face of the portion inwardly to a point adjacent the socket or bore I I in the main body.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the offset portion I4 at diametrically opposite points defining the cylindrical bore I5, is provided with a keyway or slideway i6. It will be seen, by particular reference to Figs. 2 and 5, that this keyway or slideway I6 extends through the offset portion of the body and through the main portion of the body B and defines the opposite upright walls of the socket or bore II. This keyway or slideway I6 terminates in an arcuate extension Ilia formed in an upright wall of the main body portion. The cylindrical bore in the offset body portion I4 terminates in a frusto-conical seat or inner end portion II.

The offset portion I4 is provided with a flat outer face I8 and with tapered surfaces I9. These tapered surfaces, see particularly Fig. 6, provide a plurality of cam faces or portions 2%. As shown, four such cam faces 2li, although more such faces could be employed are provided and it will be understood that each cam face is worked from zero up to an elevation of approximately 1/64 of an inch in a gradual taper. The high point of each of the cam faces then tapers off abruptly at approximately a 45 angle, as shown at 2I, to Zero at the juncture of the next adjacent cam face 25).

The cam faces 2l! and ZI are alternated throughout the circumference of the tapered surface IB of the projecting or offset portion I4 of the body. The arrangement of cam faces, as described, is worked out on the basis of a right hand thread.

The keyway or sli'deway I6, Ia together with the centrally disposed cylindrical bore or socket portion I5, provide means for receiving and slidably supporting the clamping or gripping member D previously referred to. This member D, as shown, is of generally elliptical form having its inner end generally triangular in shape, said member being preferably in the form of a loop 25 having an opening 26 therein and being provided with an outwardly extending externally threaded shank or portion 21. The inner edge of the substantially triangular portion 25a of the loop is provided with a plurality of teeth or serrations 28. The teeth or serrations 28 are adapted to grip the exposed ends of the wires W when the clamping or gripping member D is moved altwalfly toward the body offset or extension It is to be understood that the cross section of the keyways or slideways I6 is substantially rectangular and that the thickness and size of the loop portion 25 of the gripping device is such as to have a relatively snug t in the guideway, there being only sufficient tolerance or clearance between the parts to permit of the sliding movement of the gripping device D longitudinally of the guideway It, Ia. Moreover, it is to be understood that the portion of the member D which extends between the inner end of the threaded shank 27 and the adjacent side of the opening 2G in the loop, is of sulicient thickness to substantially fill the space Ib (see particularly Fig. 5) between the socket II and the bore I5.

The connector of the present invention is provided with an adjustable knob or cap member referred to above and designated as a whole by the reference letter C. This member C, as shown, is preferably formed of the same material or at least material generally similar to that from which the body B of the connector is formed and, as shown, is provided with a threaded insert or bushing member 30. This member, as shown, is externally serrated to anchor it into the co-mposition or plastic and also provided with internal threads 3i which are adapted to cooperate with the threaded portion of the shank 2l of the gripping or clamping device D.

By particular reference to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that the cap C is provided with a closed end 32 and with an inwardly tapered socket or cup-like forward portion 33. This portion 33 is shaped and designed to correspond to and cooperate with the tapered portion I9 of the body B. In other words, the internal taper 3,3 of the cap coincides or corresponds to the external taper I9 of the body B. The tapered inner face 33 of the cap member C is provided with a series of cam faces having portions 34 and 35 which correspond to and cooperate with the cam portions or faces 2t and 2|, respectively, of the body B. Therefore, upon applying the cap C to the tapered surface of body B, the parts 33 and I9 will have cooperating cam surfaces so that upon rotation of the cap in a clock-wise direction relative to the body the cam surfaces will ride over the cam surfaces of the body member B until the loop or gripping member D binds upon the conductors W whereupon the `cap C is drawn toward the body B to cause the cam faces 2B, 2i and 34, l

35 to automatically lock the cap C and the entire assembly together as a unit.

By virtue of the fact that the cam faces above referred to have a gradual taper in a clockwise direction and an abrupt taper in a counterclockwise direction, it is relatively easy to turn the cap C into locke-d position thereby holding the parts firmly together, but once the parts are locked together, it is difficult to release the cap from its locked position. But, because of the approximately 45 taper of the cam faces 2l and 35, it is possible to manually unlock or release the parts for inspection or changes.

It will be understood that the three parts of the connector heretofore described, namely the body portion B, the gripping member D and the cap C are separate parts which are adapted to be easily assembled as a unit. It will also be understood that it is impossible to maintain the cap C in place upon the body B and the clamping or gripping member D within the guideway B unless some member or members, such as the group of electric conductors or wires W projects into the socket portion II and through the opening 23 formed in the loop of the clamping member D,

in which case the conductors or wires become the means to hold the parts of the connector assembly together.

One application or manner of installation of the improved connector of the present invention may be substantially as follows:

Assuming that the three wires W are to be electrically connected, the insulation from these wires adjacent their free ends is rst cut and then skinned ofi so as to expose the actual metal wires at and adjacent their ends. These eX- pose-d portions of the wires are then twisted togather or grouped together without twisting and the whole inserted into the body portion B of the connector, with the insulated portions of the wires adjacent their stripped ends fitting within and being seated in the cup portion Iii of the connector. With the wires in this position, and the adjustable clamping or gripping member D in place in the guideway I6, Ita, the bore or raw end portions of the wires W extend through the hole or opening 26 in the loop of said gripping member and inwardly or downwardly, as shown, toward the wall portion I3 of the connector bcdy. With the parts in this position, the cap member C is applied to the threaded shank 2l of the gripping member D and rotated in a clockwise direction. The cooperation of the threads on the metal insert 30 of the cap with the threads on the shank 2 serves, upon rotation of the cap in a clockwise direction, to draw the threaded shank outwardly or toward the closed end wall 32 of the cap. Such action moves or shifts the clamping member D toward the cap C and the loop of said member D will bind the end portions of the wires W against the adjacent wall of the socket portion lI of the connector body. It is to be noted that the slots i6 and the slidable gripping member D, as shown, extend at an acute angle to the socket member or portion II. This angle may vary but as shown is approximately 28 degrees with relation to the socket Il. Thus, as the looped portion 25 of the member D is drawn inwardly toward the offset portion Ed of the body, the serrations or teeth 23 of the loop will grip the wires W and further inward movement by virtue of tightening the cap C will cause these several wires W to be rmly gripped and compressed by the loop and also locked or bound under pressure. Such binding together of the Wires and maintaining them under pressure at all times prevents any possibility of the individ- 'ual wires becoming loose and slipping out of the connector. The pressure connection likewise reduces the possibility of an accumulation of corrosion on the exposed ends of the wires.

Referring now particularly to the disk-like portion or knock-out plug I3, it will be understood that by virtue of the fact that this plug or disk is set in from the outer face of the bottom or base wall l2 of the body portion B the mechanic on the job will immediately recognize the fact that this is the thin walled portion of said body which can be removed if desired and will break it or punch it out. Such removal wiil permit the insertion into the bore or socket portion Ii or an additional electric conductor or a plurality or such conductors, such, for example, as the conductor or wire shown at E in Fig. l of the drawing. After the knock-out plug or disk i3 has been removed, the cap C may be turned in a counter-clockwise direction to loosen the pressure upon the ends of the wires or conductors W, whereupon the additional conductor or Wire E, or plurality of such, may be inserted through the opening or loop 26 of the clamping member D and the cap C rotated in the opposite or clockwise direction to again tighten the parts together to lock or bind the wires or conductors E and W together as a unit and hold them so bound under pressure. While the wall portion or plug I3 is, as shown, thinner than the adjacent walls of the connector, it will be understood that this portion is of sufficient strength and thickness so as to withstand wear and usage along with the remaining parts of the connector. Because of the fact that the connector has been provided with the disk-like portion or knock-out .plug I3, it may be adapted for additional uses without in anywise affecting the utility, strength and durability of the connector.

In Fig. 7 of the drawing, there is shown a somewhat modied form of connector embodying the present invention. In this form of the invention, the connector body portion or member is shown as a whole at B and the removable cap member at C. It will be seen that the body portion is provided with a slot or keyway l 6 which corresponds to the slot or keyway of the preceding form of the invention and that, as shown, the removable cap C is also provided with a threaded insert or bushing 30 corresponding to the bushing of the preceding form.

Instead of providing tapered cam faces for the cooperating portions of the body member B' and the cap C as in the preceding form, the adjacent ends of these members of the present connector are provided with ratchet-like teeth or serrations. The body member B has a plurality of teeth or serrations 40 and the cap member or portion C is provided on its inner face or surface with a series or plurality `of similar teeth or serrations 4|. These teeth or serrations on the coacting or cooperating members are adapted to permit the cap member C' to be rotated in a clockwise direction to secure or lock the parts together and to hold said cap in Such locked condition against accidental loosening or displacement relative to the member B. By turning the cap C' in a clockwise direction, it wil1 be understood that the clamping device D (not shown in connection with Fig. 7) will be drawn outwardly or downwardly toward the cap so as to bind the exposed ends of any electrical conductors or wires or other flexible members positioned within the body portion or member toward the wall of the bore or socket Il which is nearest to the cap and thus lock or bind said wires together in position under pressure within the connector. In other words, the wires are bound or locked in place within the connector of Fig. 7 in precisely the same manner as in the connector of the preceding views. It will be understood that the teeth or serrations 40 and 4lare so shaped and proportioned as to permit of the cooperation and interlocking of parts to maintain the cap C' in locked position upon the body B. Thus, it will be seen, that the parts of the connector shown in Fig. 'I of the drawing will be held together in similar manner to the parts B and C of the preceding form. While the ratchet-like teeth or serrations 40 and 4l coact to maintain the parts in locked condition when the cap is turned in a clockwise direction, it is possible by virtue of the shape and formation of said teeth, to turn the cap member C in a counterclockwise direction so as to remove the binding action or pressure on the iiexible members or electric conductors to release them when and if desirable.

While the cap member C is shown as being provided with a metal insert or sleeve member 30,` it will be understood that the cap member itself may be internally threaded with the threads formed from the material of the cap so as to cooperate with the threaded end portion 21 of the slidable clamping member D.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided improved connectors for use in securing together, under pressure, a plurality of iiex ible members, such for example, as electric conductors, wires, or the like, which have universal use in that a connector of a given size is adapted to accommodate a wide range of flexible members or wires of diiferent sizes and grouping. Moreover, it will be seen that I have provided improved connectors which are of relatively simple construction, durable in use, and which may be cast, molded or otherwise produced from materials of various kinds at relatively low cost.

I claim:

1. In a connector for binding together a plurality of flexible members under pressure, a body member having a cup-like socket formed therein and a substantially cylindrical bore forming a continuation of said socket for receiving the end portions of the iiexible members, said body member having a keyway extending therein at an acute angle to said bore, said body member also having an offset portion provided with a substantially cylindrical bore extending at substantially the angle of said keyway, a clamping member having a relatively snug t in said keyway and slidable longitudinally therein, said clamping member having a loop portion cooperable with said rst named bore and a threaded shank portion normally fitting within said second bore, and a removable and rotatable cap member threadedly engaging said shank for moving said clamping member in a longitudinal direction in the keyway to draw the clamping member toward said cap member and clamp or bind the flexible members under pressure between the loop portion of said clamping member and the adjacent wall of the first named bore, said offset portion and said cap member having releasable cooperating locking means formed on their adjacent faces, the cooperating faces of said offset portion and said cap member extending at angles of approximately 45 whereby to hold the parts in alignment and thus reduce the possibility of breakage or splitting of the body in the location of said keyway upon rotation of the cap member into locked condition.

2. In a connector for binding together a plurality of iiexible members under pressure, a body member formed from plastic material having a cup-like socket formed therein and a substantially cylindrical bore forming a continuation of said socket for receiving the end portions of the flexible members, said body member having a keyway extending therein at an acute angle to said bore, said body member also having an offset portion provided with a substantially cylindrical bore extending at substantially the angle of said keyway, a clamping member having a relatively snug fit in said keyway and slidable longitudinally therein, said clamping member having a loop portion provided with teeth cooperable with said iirst named bore and a threaded shank portion normally tting within said second bore, and a removable and rotatable cap member formed from plastic material and having a threaded metallic insert engaging said shank for moving said clamping member in a longitudinal direction in the keyway to clamp or bind the flexible members under pressure between the loop portion of said clamping member and the adjacent Wall oi the first named bore, said oiset portion and said cap member having releasable cooperating locking means 5 formed on their adjacent faces, the cooperating faces of said offset portion and said cap member extending at angles of approximately 45 whereby to hold the parts in alignment and thus reduce the possibility of lbreakage or splitting of the body in the location of said keyway upon rotation of the cap member into locked condition.

JOHN D. BENFIELD. 

